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GIFT   OF 


"A  *N  ' 


THE  POWER  OF  DESTINY 
RE 
SPAIN  AND  THE  PHILIPPINES 


ERASMUS  DARWIN  FRENCH 


THE  POWER  OF  DESTINY^  j*  £ 
REVEALED  IN  OUR  WAR  WITH 
SPAIN  AND  THE  PHILIPPINES  j* 


BY 


ERASMUS  DARWIN  FRENCH 


J899 


PRINTED   BY 

ERNEST  K.  FOSTER 

LOS  ANGELES 


All  Rights  Reserved 


Hmerica  in  Besttnp 

5panisb*Bmerican  War. 

Cbe  pilgrims. 

I. 

The  song  that  began  on  the  ocean, 

When  the  waves  and  the  spray  were  in  foam 
And  the  Pilgrims,  with  hearts  of  emotion, 

Bade  farewell  to  the  land  of  their  home. 


But  the  joy  that  was  blended  with  sorrow 
Was  brightened  with  gleams  of  delight — 

They  would  land  on  the  shore  on  the  morrow, 
For  the  land  was  already  in  sight. 


Soon  the  Pilgrims  were  thankfully  landed — 
They  pitched  their  white  tents  on  the  shore; 

And  their  courage  was  not  to  be  stranded, 
For  injustice  might  reach  them  no  more. 


But  the  clouds  gathered  darkly  before  them 

(The  tyrant  is  ever  unjust); 
He  heard  of  their  wrongs,  to  ignore  them; 

For  in  strength — not  in  right — would  he  trust. 


340140 


6-  ' 


Then  the  arm  of  true  justice  extended, 
Defied  the  dark  power  of  conceit; 

And  the  hearts  of  true  patriots  blended, 
To  face  danger,  but  never  defeat. 


Then  quickly  was  raised  a  small  army, 
Every  saber  was  brimfull  of  soul; 

Every  man  left  at  home  a  fair  charmer 
Which  nothing  but  love  could  control. 


With  Washington — famous   commander — 

Forever  determined  and  true, 
And  Putnam  and  Greene — above  slander, 

And  the  fights  that  brave  Marion  went  through. 


The  foe  met  with  greater  disaster, 
When  Gates  took  their  army  in  hand, 

No  vise  could  hold  firmer,  nor  faster, 
And  Columbia  held  the  fair  land. 


<3reat  IRebeUion. 
ii. 

America!   the  chosen  one  indeed! 

From  foreign  tyranny  forever  freed; 

No  chain  shall  bind  thee,  save  the  chain  of  self; 

No  tyranny  distort,  save  tyranny  of  pelf. 

March  on!   though  halting  with  thy  heavy  load; 

Time  will  relieve,  for  straight  must  be  the  road. 

Distorted  by  the  great  unsightly  pack — 

The  weight  of  chains,  the  slavery  of  the  black — 

The  surging  power  of  Destiny  unseen 

Will  crowd  thee  on,  and  thy  fair  vales  of  green 

Shall   blush  with   redness  when   the   blood   shall 

flow, 
And    fires    of   wrath    throughout   the    land    shall 

glow. 

But  drink  the  bitter  cup,  it  must  be  done — 
Wrong  is  entailed,  but  righteousness  is  won; 
Wrong  in  the  fabric  of  departed  years 
Is  cleansed  by  blood  of  man  and  woman's  tears. 
No  matter  that  the  thousands  must  be  slain; 
No  matter  should  the  nation  part  in  twain — 
Omnipotence  itself  is  in  command. 
March  to  the  front,  and  raise  the  soldier's  hand; 
'Tis  not  man's  war  alone — eternal  years 
Marked  out  the  bloody  path,  despite  man's  fears. 
Progressive  life  that  stained  the  track  of  time 
Is  but  the  bloody  mount  that  all  must  climb. 
America,  the  child,  must  learn  its  task; 
Justice  must  be  sincere — without  a  mask; 
The  gulf  between  the  slave-bound  and  the  free 


Is  wide  and  deep — what  must  the  struggle  be? 
Call  out  the  men  to  fill  the  awful  chasm; 
Arm  for  long  siege — not  for  a  transient  spasm. 
The  South  exclaims,  "Arm  to  defend  your  riglt, 
If  fate  decrees,  be  in  the  thickest  fight; 
Fight  for  your  homes,  your  children,  slaves  and 

wives ; 

Heed  not  the  cost;   ten  thousand  precious  lives 
May  well  be  sacrificed  to  gain  our  cause; 
We'll  rend  the  country,  execute  our  laws." 
Not  thus,  the  Northern  heart  in  force  replies. 
"This  Great  Republic  must  not  sacrifice 
Its  strength,  its  unity,  its  power; 
'Tis  built  for  time;  shall  this  impassioned  hour 
Destroy  the  nation  that  all  nature  made?" 
No;  the  foundation  has  been  deeply  laid; 
The  mind  that  orders  Orion  through  space, 
Mapped  out  the  Universe;  and  it  can  trace 
The  very  line  the  planet  Earth  must  take, 
The  very  boundaries  that  nations  make. 
The  heart  of  God  is  in  these  wondrous  schemes, 
All  framed  in  wisdom — not  to  fade  like  dreams. 
Go  from  the  North  and  learn  war's  cruel  art; 
Go  from  the  South,  for  you  must  bear  your  part 
In  the  advancement  of  a  growing  world, 
Although  your  great  iniquity  is  hurled 
In  fire  and  battle  from  your  favored  land; 
Then  peace  and  plenty  comes  at  your  command. 
Leaders  of  men  responded  to  the  call; 
Great  Generals  gave  their  time,  their  fame,  their 

all. 
The  scales  were  trembling,  hopes  and  excitements 

high. 


"We  must  be  victors!"  was  the  earnest  cry. 
Now  unseen  Wisdom  in  the  realms  of  love, 
And  more  occult  than  worlds  or  suns  above, 
Moved  man's  emotions;  every  thought  of  soul 
Sprang  from  the  fount — the  source  of  all  control; 
It  moved  the  motive  of  the  hearts  of  man, 
As  instruments  to  carry  out  the  plan. 
And  from  that  source  the  silent  orders  came 
To  North  and  South  to  light  the  mighty  flame 
That  whirled  with  quick  dispatch  and  into  line 
The  bravest  men  upon  the  track  of  time. 
With  Grant  and  Lee  to  hold  with  skillful  hand, 
The  restless  armies  under  their  command^ 
Naught  could  arrest  the  plan  so  deeply  laid — 
Nature  is  ruler  and  must  be  obeyed. 
The  Southern  waves  broke  into  foam  and  spray; 
For  Northern  walls  were  firm  along  the  way; 
Receding  then  their  forces  to  renew 
More  terrible  the  struggle  to  pass  through. 
The  East  and  West  rose  like  a  sudden  storm 
Defying  danger  at  the  nation's  morn. 
Each  side  claimed  justice  as  the  point  of  view, 
And  to  their  principles  they  must  be  true. 
Fighting  for  justice,  how  could  either  fail? 
Perhaps  pure  Destiny  must  turn  the  scale! 
And  surely  Destiny  was  in  command, 
Ready  to  bless  and  give  the  helping  hand; 
Ready  to  bless  when  man  had  learned  to  see 
That  in  fraternal  love  all  must  be  free. 
Man  is  not  maker  of  the  laws  of  fate; 
Earth  may  be  bright  or  may  be  desolate; 
Dark  ignorance  must  yield  to  coming  light — 
Knowledge  gives  vision  to  the  inner  sight; 


10- 


And  nations  must,  like  men,  learn  to  be  just 
Ere  they  may  hold  a  place  for  higher  trust. 
The  nation,  crippled  but  redeemed  in  soul, 
Bound  up  her  wounds,  but  kept  the  Union  whole; 
And  thus  a  step  was  taken  in  the  plan 
Marked  out  by  Destiny;   but  not  by  man. 


Cuba. 

America! 

The  fiery  trial  of  thy  strength  is  past; 
The  great  Rebellion,   an   expiring  foe; 
Thy  land  is  broad;  thy  garnered  stores  are  vast; 
Well  has  thou  shown  devotion  to  thy  flag, 
And  shining  thoughts  go  out  from  patriot  hearts, 
Evincing  love  of  liberty,  of  land  and  home. 
And  the  unseen  intelligence  that  gives 
Vitality  and  life  and  power  to  man 
Is  still  thy  guardian  to  lead  thee  on 
To  victory  more  signal  than  the  past. 
Thy  darkest  nights  foreshadowed  coming  day 
That  added  splendor  to  thy  brilliant  deeds. 
Thus  shall  it  ever  be:   we  lead  thee  in 
Full  strength  and  bright  prevision  of  the  years 
That  wait  thy  coming  to  eternal  fame. 
"What!     On  to  conquest!     Is  not  war  a  curse?" 
Yes!     On  to  conquest!     Let  the  plow  cut  deep, 
And  kill  the  poisonous  roots  that  draw  the  life 
Prom   higher  fruits   that   please   and   bless   man 
kind. 

Let  the  obstructions  that  impede  the  way, 
That  the  'triumphant  power  of  good,  must  pass, 


-II 


Be  swept  and  buried  from  the  face  of  earth. 

The  voice  of  nature  cries  for  full  redress, 

The  bodies  of  the  dead  and  starving  poor 

Rise  up  light  massive  clouds  in  sight  of  heaven; 

Borne  high  by  awful  pangs  of  agony. 

O!  who  shall  don  the  soldier's  garb  to  crush 

The  heartless  and  relieve  humanity? 

America!  the  vast  intelligence 

That  holds  the  spheres  is  urging  you  along. 

You  hesitate;  you  hate  the  clash  of  war; 

The  broken  hearts  of  women  melt  your  souls; 

And  crying  children  bid  the  last  good-bye. 

These  pictures  come  before  the  manly  heart, 

As  if  to  stay  the  arm  of  Destiny; 

But  the  pulsations  of  subjective  life, 

Filled  with  intelligence  innate  and  wise; 

Is  weaving  well  the  complicated   net, 

To  humble  and  entrap  the  tyrant  power. 

Cubans  have  cried,  "O  let  our  people  go," 

For  Spain  the  mother  robs  her  children  of 

The  hard-earned  sustenance  they  amply  earn. 

The   cry    resounds    throughout    the     realms     of 

thought, 

And  the  demand  goes  forth  for  quick  redress; 
Then  all  subjective  life — the  very  heart 
And  energy  of  every  living  thing 
Responded  to  the  call;  and  love  renewed 
Her  brilliancy  and  power,  and  wisdom,  too; 
And  pointed  to  the  land  that  freed  her  slaves, 
And  bade  her  rise  and  break  poor  Cuba's  chains, 
And  drive  the  Spanish  monster  from  the  Isles. 
Prepare  for  war.      Haste,  for  the  day  of  doom 
Is  crowding  now  the  door  that  holds  in  check 


12- 


The  bloody  scenes  of  war  that  soon  must  come. 

The  occult  forces  are  in  evidence; 

The  unity  of  purpose  is  revealed; 

Magnetic  currents  sweep  across  the  land; 

The  Avenging  Angel  waits  to  guide  the  storm — 

Waiting  for  man  to  gather  armaments 

Of  strength  and  power,  to  insure  success. 

And  what  of  thee,  O,  cruel,  heartless  Spain? 

Hast  thou  not  felt  the  pangs  of  conscience  burn, 

When   calm    reflection     brought     thy     crimes    to 

light? 

No!   for  astride  the  centuries  has  thou 
Trodden  down  the  weaker  ones  of  earth. 
With  promises  of  love,  you  gave  them  scorn; 
With  promises  of  bread,  you  took  their  gold. 
But  you  inherited  your  evil  traits; 
And  so  the  ages  waited  for  reform; 
But  ah!  the  degradation  was  too  low 
For  even  Time  to  'wait  for  you  to  rise. 
You  jeered  the  power  that  sought  to  render  aid; 
And  with  an  outward  garb  of  holiness, 
You  flaunted  out  your  vanity  and  pride, 
Expecting  God  to  save  you  from  defeat. 
You  broke  the  silent  stillness  of  the  night, 
When  the  great  battleship  was  rent  in  twain, 
And  scores  of  men  hurled  into  sudden  death; 
Such  was  your  perfidy  in  time  of  peace. 
But  fate  has  marked  the  line  and  hedged  the  way. 
Such  willful  disregard  of  human  rights 
Has  jarred  the  chords  of  the  invisible; 
And  unseen  energies  have  scanned  the  world 
To  find  an  instrument  to  crush  the  wolf. 


-13 


America! 

You're  wanted  now;   move  on  without  delay; 
Your  ships  are  ready  and  your  President 
Is  overwhelmed  with  patriotic  fire 
That  comes  from  all  the  borders  of  the  land. 
Spain  has  declared  for  war;   and  gave  command, 
That  Yankee  pigs  be  slaughtered  on  the  sea; 
And  fed  to  the  consumers  in  the  deep. 
Now  orders  from  our  nation's  Capital 
Are  flashing  through  the  ocean's  silent  depths 
To   give   command,    "DESTROY   THE     SPANISH 

FLEET!" 

O!  what  a  thrill  entrances  every  heart! 
These    four    short    words    announce     a     purpose 

strong, 

A  sense  of  power,  abiding  trust,  and  hope 
That  justice  might  control  the  coming  storm. 
Our  battleships  are  ready,   on  the  sea, 
And  all  the  complications  they  contain 
Are  well  adjusted  by  the  skill  of  man. 
But  ere  our  fighting  force  had  crossed  the  Gulf, 
Or  grappled  with  the  foe  on  Cuban  shores, 
A  message  comes  from  the  far  distant  East; 
It  brings  glad  tidings  to  the  nation's  heart. 
Belch  forth  loud  cannons  while  the  people  shout; 
O!  ring  ye  bells;   let  Echo  send  the  joy, 
And  let  the  hills  and  vales  prolong  the  song; 
Our  Admiral — our  own  Great  Admiral — 
The  order  has  obeyed  in  spirit  and 
In  letter  to  the  very  last  degree. 
Columbia's  noble  fleet  defied  the  waves, 
Ignored  the  darkness  and  the  gloom  of  night; 
Defied  the  fortress  of  Corregidor; 


And  skimmed  the  waters  of  Manila  bay. 

The  night  wore  on — the  destinies  of  men 

Were  drawing  near,  the  awful,  fatal  hour! 

The  emblem  Eagle  soon  must  droop  his  wings, 

Or  Spain  must  tremble  in  the  shock  of  war. 

And  now,  before  the  sun  could  shake  his  smiles 

Upon  the  dimpled  cheek  of  peaceful  day, 

The  clash  of  nations  broke  the  spell  of  night, 

And  peace  gave  way  to  the  black  scourge  of  war. 

Listen!  ye  fading  stars!     O,  morning  Sun, 

Haste  to  behold  the  angry  grapple  of 

A  waning  kingdom  in  a  slow  decay 

With  a  republic  in  the  glow  of  youth. 

Man  is  the  modern  mystery  of  time; 

Now  he  supplies  his  vengeance,  with  a  skill 

That  makes  the  empires,  and  alarms  the  world. 

Behold  him  now;  his  strength,  his  stolid  heart, 

His  nerves,  restrengthened  by  the  fire  of  will, 

Hear  the  report  of  heavy  guns  that  ring 

The  swift  incoming  of  the  tramp  of  war! 

On!  on!  defy  the  heat;  ignore  fatigue; 

Momentous  moments!   thrice  eventful  day! 

Pressing  the  years  into  a  few  short  hours, 

Pressing  men's  souls  into  eternal  years! 

The  battle  rages;   and  the  heat  intense 

Is  in  full  contact  with  the  coolest  heads. 

Precision  is  the  word — straight  to  the  mark 

Let  every  bullet  be  an  instrument 

Of  Destiny  to  shake  the  thrones  of  Kings 

And  Emperors!     Man's  will  be  done,  when  truth 

And  justice  is  the  object  held  in  view; 

But  when  the  upas  of  a  nation's  crime 

Has  sent  its  venom  to  the  realm  of  cause 


Then  their  iniquity  is  full;  then  the 
Great  Law  of  Judgment  from  the  world  unseen, 
Inspires  a  greater  force  that  flashes  jubilant 
In  every  heart  and  strengthens  every  arm. 
Such  are  the  men  to  pull  the  pillars  down, 
Adjust  the  scales  and  let  the  wicked  fall. 
On  with  the  battle!     See  Spain's  crippled   ships. 
Her  flag,  once  glorious,  now  is  rent  to  shreds; 
Her  dead  are  piled  and  scattered  o'er  the  deck; 
And  the  shrill  cry  of  fire  is  faintly  heard, 
In  the  loud  thunder  and  the  scream  of  lead. 
Scattered  and  torn  and  sinking  in  the  flames — 
The  warriors  spring  into  the  heated  depths; 
And   smoke,   and   waves,   and   sullen   wrath,   was 

left, 

As  Spain's  poor  compliment  for  all  her  toil. 
Nor  was  this  all;  ship  after  ship  went  down — 
The  fated  fleet  was  blotted  from  the  sea. 
Hundreds  of  men  had  perished  to  uphold 
A  kingdom,  Destiny  has  doomed  to  wane. 
America,  enumerate  your  loss; 
The  people  mourn  the  absence  of  the  slain, 
And  wait  to  honor  theid  heroic  dead. 
Bear  the  news  gently!  O,  ye  deep  sea  lines, 
And  tell  us  quickly  of  the  loss  we  bear; 
We  wait,  we  listen  with  impatient  ear. 
The  light  of  glory  shines  in  every  word; 
The  news  is  heralded  from  shore  to  shore 
That  one  lone  man  was  killed  by  accident. 

Now  sing  the  song  that  began  on  the  ocean, 
'Twas  then  but  a  hopeful  refrain; 
Now  sixty  million  hearts  in  commotion 
To  sing  of  the  glory  we've  gained. 


1 6- 


Time  moves  the  panorama  of  the  world: 

A  sudden  joy  today;   then  follow  days 

Of  keen  expectancy.    What  may  a  day 

Bring   forth.     The    sea   waves     lap     around     the 

world, 

Heedless  of  battles,  nations  and  of  men; 
They  waken  echos  on  Atlantic  shores, 
And  beat  the  rocks  or  the  Pacific  isles; 
'Tis  man  that  moves  with  Destiny;  'tis  man 
That  masters  the  eventful  scenes  of  time, 
That  crosses  oceans,  overcomes  a  foe, 
Or  falls  in  battle  on  the  curling  crest. 
But  other  ships  of  strength  and  speed, 
Roll  in  the  cradle  of  the  dancing  waves; 
They  guard  the  cities  of  America; 
And  steam  across  the  gulf  of  Mexico; 
And  tEey  encompass  the  Caribbean  sea. 
Perhaps  a  shell  might  startle  great  New  York 
And  fill  its  denizens  with  rage  and  fear; 
Or  Boston  lose  her  equilibrium 
Should  the  Oquendo  hurl  a  bursting  shell. 
But  our  great  Admirals  are  all  alert, 
And  wide-mouthed  cannon,  eager  for  the  hour, 
To  sink  intruders  down  to  sightless  graves. 
But  Spain!   courageous  to  the  bitter  end; 
Dispatched  the  Cape  Verde  fleet— the  very  pride 
Of  all  her  fighting  force  upon  the  sea. 
The  great  Cervera,  always  just  and  true. 
Commanded  these  great  arsenals  of  power; 
And  as  they  outward  moved  with  graceful  pride 
To  measure  strength  with  the  Americans, 
They  raised  their  flags  high  in  the  steady  breeze 
As  they  moved  out  to  cross  the  Atlantic's  waves. 


-17 


The  Pope  gave  bounteous  blessings  to  enhance 
The  certainty  of  quick  and  sure  success; 
"For  Holy  Spain  should  be  upheld.    Had  she 
Not  climbed  the  heights  of  South  America; 
Conquered  and  slain  the  unoffending  tribes; 
Plundered    their   temples,    robbed    them    of    their 

gold, 

And  all  for  God,  the  guardian  of  our  work? 
Move  on,  invulnerable  fleet;   strike  down 
The  young  barbarians  that  dare  presume 
To  clash  against  the  Virgin  and  our  cross." 
Thus  armed  with  superstition  and  the  fleet, 
They  crossed  the  solemn  solitudes  that  splash 
Defiance  in  the  face  of  man,  and  hold  9 

His  laden  vessels  like  a  dancing  toy. 
In  time  they  reached  the  fair  Caribbean  sea, 
Where   waters    wash   the   shores    of    Spain's    do 
main; 

Where  Puerto  Rico  yields  her  stores  of  wealth. 
Opens  her  doors  to  the  commercial  world; 
And  Cuba,  the  bright  kohinoor — the  gem 
In  the  tiara  of  Antille's  crown; 
The  summer  child,  set  in  selected  place. 
Where  torrid  zone  may  kiss  the  temperate  cheek; 
The  Queen  of  Nature,  ruined  by  the  lust 
Of  rulers,  visibly  unfit  to  rule. 
Cervera  knew  his  strength,  his  disabilities — 
The  fallen  prestige  of  his  government 
Since  Dewey  amputated  Spam's  left  ana* 
And   more  than  these,   he  knew  that  the  strong 
arm 

Of  the  pursuer  followed  close  his  track. 
He  would  avoid  collision  and  defeat 


Until  some  more  auspicious  time  arrived. 

At  last  he  gained  a  harbor  where  his  foes 

Could  not  disturb  his  weary,  time-worn  fleet; 

And  thus,  ensconced  in  Santiago's  bay, 

The  power  of  Spanish  empire  sought  to  rest. 

But  eagle  eyes  discovered  the  retreat — 

Nothing  was  more  desired  than  to  know 

Where  these  eluding  warriors  could  be; 

And  nothing  more  certain  than  their  fatal  end. 

There  was  no  rest  in  that  beleaguered  land; 

America  had  right  to  wrest  from  Spain, 

The  land  she  could  not  bless  with  words  of  truth; 

No  right  to  hold  the  children  she  despised, 

And  plunged  them  in  the  infamy  of  war. 

America! 
Take  these   poor   children   from    their     mother's 

grasp; 

Let  not  thy  feet  be  laggard  on  the  way. 
The  sun  is  hot  on  Santiago's  hills, 
Trenches  encompass  the  invested  place, 
And  Spanish  soldiers  wait  behind  the  banks, 
And  every  thicket  swarms  with  fighting  men. 
America  fears  not  these  obstacles, 
But  rushing  orders  send  the  transports  on, 
To  bear  the  precious  freight  across  the  Gulf. 
The  blessings  of  the  land  are  with  them,  as 
They  leave  their  much  loved  homes  and   native 

shores; 

But  the  warm  life  that  throbs  in  every  pore 
Of  nature's  vast  and  wonderful  display; 
Is  beating  full  of  hope  in  every  heart. 
How  critical  the  coming  of  events; 
But  man,  the  genius,  feels  the  glow  of  soul, 


-19 


That  sparkles  from  the  central  fount  of  life; 
And  the  entanglements  of  nations  are 
Adjusted  by  the  cruel  arm  of  war. 
Boldly  our  men  are  climbing  the  rough  hills, 
And  penetrating  through  the  thickest  thorns, 
Meeting  the  lead  that  flies  from  jungles  thick. 
The  obstacles  are  great,  but  nerve  supreme; 
No  thought  of  a  retreat,  but  ever  on. 
The  enemy  resists  this  fearless  foe, 
Contesting  stubbornly  the  fierce  attack. 
But  unremitting  force  will  not  recoil, 
Until  the  city  in  the  hills  is  won. 
Meanwhile,  the  Navy,  proud  to  show  its  strength; 
And  ready  to  subserve  the  country's  needs; 
Is  holding  in  fast  blockade,  every  port 
Of  the  unfortunate  invested  isle. 
The  Fleet,  as  if  by  magic  hurled  upon  the  sea, 
Strong  to  defy  the  more  than  heartless  waves; 
Armed  to  defend  the  nation  to  the  last; 
Though  on  the  broad  Pacific's  endless  reach 
Or  seizing  spoils  along  the  western  isles; 
Or  in  bombardment  of  the  threatening  forts 
That  guard  the  entrance  of  the  treacherous  bay. 
Our  army  on  the  hills  beat  back  the  troops 
That  use  their  rifles  with  such  dire  effect; 
But  the  strong  chain  of  force  now  binds  them  in 
The  hungry  whirlpool  of  despair  and  crime. 
And  now  again,  beneath  the  ocean  waves, 
Swifter  than  time  the  urgent  message  flies, 
Directed  by  the  Cabinet— the  heart  of  Spain: 
"Leave  your  seclusion  in  the  bay,  go  out 
And  fight  the  fleet  that  holds  us  in  suspense, 
And  by  the  grace  of  God  we'll  conquer  all. 


20- 


Go  sink  the  boasting  ships  that  bear  the  flag 
That  flaunts  the  stars  and  stripes  from  shore  to 

shore." 

Reluctantly,  Cervera  left  the  bay, 
The  flagship  Colon  taking  the  advance; 
Then  followed  the  Vizcaya,  bold  and  brave, 
And  the  Oquendo  closely  followed  suit. 
These   great   machines   for     fighting,     were     the 

strength, 

The  greatness  of  the  fleet,  the  nation's  pride. 
As  they  appeared  in  view,  under  full  speed, 
The  time  seemed  heavy  with  great  event, 
That  would  deeper  sink  the  monarchy 
That  conquered  once  a  continent, 
And  planted  destinies  for  years  to  come. 
And  now  the  fading  glory  of  that  power 
Was  buffeting  the  darkness  of  despair, 
Struggling    against   the    waves    that    soon    might 

tear 

The  remnants  of  her  glory  into  shreds. 
But  fate  is  like  the  earthquake,  that  heeds  not 
The  wail  of  cities  or  the  death  of  men. 
The  opening  earth  may  swallow  down  its  thou 
sands; 

And  living  flames   consume  mortality, 
But  nature  marches  on,  heedless  of  life; 
Unmindful  of  the  rise  of  nations,  or 
The  fall  of  Emperors  or  Kings  of  earth. 
Behold!    these   mighty   ships,    immense   in   form, 
Keyed  to  the  highest  power  conceivable, 
Expressly  to  destroy  humanity. 
They  come  like  monsters  from  some  hidden  den 
To  terrify  and  crush  opposing  force. 


-21 


But  Nature,  adequate  to  all  demands, 

Has  balanced  well  her  schemes  to  carry  out 

Her  purposes,  to  build  complete  and  firm 

The  temple  of  progressive  Life  and  Love. 

And  thus  another  force  is  in  the  plan, 

Ready  and  keen  to  mingle  in  the  fray. 

In  infancy  it  crossed  the  Atlantic  waves — 

Her  school,  the  forest  of  New  England  shores; 

Her  tributaries  from  European  lands, 

And  now  upon  this  great  historic  gulf, 

It  rises  face  to  face,  and  arm  to  arm, 

Defying  the  once  greatest  power  on  earth. 

On   comes   the   battle.    Ages   culminate 

As  these  great  battleships  in  desperate  haste, 

Plow  the  deep  waters  to  escape  from  death; 

For  the  young  Giant  of  the  West  was  there 

To  hurl  the  bolts  that  Destiny  prepared, 

To  check  the  tide  of  perfidy  and  crime 

That    long   enough    have   draped    the     world     in 

gloom. 

Cervera's  flagship  fired  the  shot  that  first 
Sent  the  loud  scream  of  battle  o'er  the  sea! 
The  Indiana  welcomed  the  hot  shot 
That  came  so  near  her  side  of  heavy  steel, 
Then  opened  wide  her  blazing  arsenal, 
And  sent  the  storm  of  death  in  swift  return. 
The  battle  raged  in  the  full  tide  of  war. 
Retreating  vessels  fighting  in  despair, 
And  the  pursuers  blowing  out  the  lives 
Of  the  defeated;  struggling  in  the  fire  of  death. 
The  best  and  strongest  of  the  Spanish  fleet 
Were  being  torn,  and  splintered  by  a  power 
More  vigorous*  than  nations  even  dreamed. 


22- 


The  Gloucester  sent  swift  reminders  on 

To  hail  Vizcaya  in  her  rapid  flight, 

Regardless  of  the  compliment  which  was 

Returned  by  the  retreating  enemy. 

The  Indiana  and  Iowa  with 

Their  greater  guns  stained  the  Vizcaya's  decks 

With    blood;    shattered    her     comely     form     of 

strength, 

Until  confusion,  helplessness  and  fire 
Forced  the  bewildered  men  to  run  ashore. 
The  Texas  knew  the  hour  was  opportune, 
And  did  her  work  with  honor  and  effect; 
And  soon  the  ships  of  Spain  in  desperation  and 
Despair,  in  their  supreme  defeat  and  loss; 
Dashed  their  shattered  fragments  to  the  shore. 
Such  a  great  victory  filled  the  soldiers'  heart; 
And  joy  exuberant  would  explode  in  shouts. 
But  sadness  always  veils  the  light  of  joy, 
For  death  is  the  sure  penalty  of  war. 
To  see  the  foe,  defeated  and  destroyed, 
Jumping  from  flames  into  the  breaking  waves, 
Wounded  and  mangled,  as  they  try  to  save 
Their  lives,  as  dear  to  them,  as  ours  to  us. 
No  wonder  the  good  Captain  Philip  said, 
"Don't   shouf,    my   boys,    for    they,    like   us,    are 

men!" 

The  Colon  forged  ahead  with  her  full  speed, 
Determined  to  escape  her  eager  foes; 
But  the  great  Oregon  was  on  her  track, 
And  a  hot  fighting  race  of  forty  miles, 
Brought  Spain's  great  Admiral  and  ship  to  bay, 
And  on  the  sinking  vessel  the  white  flag 
Was  seen  to  flutter  mid  the  scenes  of  death. 


-23 


The  lapping  tongues  of  the  consuming  fire, 
Increased  the  horrors  of  the  dreadful  scene: 
To  reach  the  shore  was  now  the  only  hope — 
And  there  to  battle  with  ihe  heartless  sea. 
But  their  great  foes  were  generous  to  help 
The  victims  of  this  most  important  hour. 
The  Great  New   iTork,  returning  from  a  cruise, 
Sunk  the  two  torpedo  boats,  and  then  was  lost 
The  last  remains  of  Spanish  dominance 
Upon  the  waters  of  the  western  isles. 
Thus  ended  this  decisive  victory; 
Spain's  great  display  of  power — her  battleships- 
Have  vanished;  all  the  genius,  skill  and  toil 
Of  years  have  disappeared — forever  lost; 
And  history  will  record  this  victory, 
And  its  companion  in  Manila  bay, 
As  the  great  wonder  in  the  art  of  war. 
Spain's  loss  was  heavy — sixteen  hundred  men 
As  prisoners,  besides  the  unknown  dead. 
America,  of  higher  destiny, 
Important  in  the  drama  of  the  world — 
A  factor  in  the  sphere  that  nations  rule, 
Was  left  intact  to  fill  her  Destiny. 

The  song  that  was  sung  on  the  treacherous  sea, 
When  the  seed  of  our  Empire  was  sown; 

It   was   planted    in    waters    deep,    boundless    and 

free- 
As  boundless  and  free,  be  this  land  our  own. 

The  harps  that  were  hung  on  the  willows  of  old 
May  be  torn  from  the  withering  limbs, 

For  the  price  of  our  victory  can  never  be  told, 
Nor  weighed  in  our  jubilant  hymns. 


24- 


But  we'll  raise  our  glad  spirits  as  high  as  we  can, 

And  sing  to  the  top  of  the  voice, 
For  we  feel  in  our  souls  the  Omnipotent  plan 

That  gave  us  our  laurels  and  bade  us  rejoice. 

The  people  now  will  render  honor,  and 
Great  praise  to  our  invincibles  in  war. 
Our  hearts  are  quite  too  full  of  gratitude, 
To  slight  the  lowest  in  the  scale  of  rank. 
Take  the  full  blessings  of  a  nation's  heart — 
You've  earned  it  in  the  very  jaws  of  death. 
Could  I  engrave  upon  the  marble  slab, 
Names  that  forever  might  endure  the  wear 
Of  elements,  and  the  attacks  of  time, 
My  efforts  would  be  feeble  to  express 
All  the  deep  feelings  of  a  nation's  gratitude. 
But  history  will  engrave  the  deeds  of  men 
That  led  us  through  the  perils  of  the  past. 
Who  are  the  heroes  of  our  passing  war? 
Imagination  scans  the  scenes  of  strife, 
And  every  faithful  soldier  finds  a  place 
In  the  great  heart  of  our  dear  native  land. 
We  sympathize  with  you  in  your  fatigue, 
Your  hunger,  and  your  dying  hour,  and  all 
Your  sad  remembrances  of  home  and  friends, 
To  us  are  sad  reminders  of  your  fate. 
But  all  will  soon  be  past,  and  time  will  bear 
You  on  to  that  immortal  land  where  you 
Can  see  your  noble  work,  inwrought 
On  the  great  structure  built  for  Liberty. 
The  feeble  pen  can  never  name  you  all, 
But  here  in  this  bright  morning  hour — alone. 
Where  most  delicious  silence  reigns  supreme, 


-25 


Where   inspirations   fall   like   heavenly   dew, 
I  must  record  the  very  names  of  men 
Who  spent  their  youthful  years  preparing 
For  a  crisis  that  would  hurl  iniquity 
From  toppling  thrones  of  perfidy  and  power, 
To  change  the  tropic  isles  from  night  to  day, 
From  slaves  to  dignity  and  self-respect, 
And  from  the  lethargy  of  aimless  life 
To  the  realities  of  life  renewed. 
I  cannot  add  to  fame  already  won, 
Nor  can  I  close  my  verse  until  I  bless 
My  pages  with  our  most  illustrious  names. 


Hames  of  a  ffew  of  ©ur 
Xeaotng  flfcen. 

William  McKinley,  President  of  the  United  States 
of  America — 

First  for  peace,  great  in  war, 
Loth  to  strike,  out  hard  the  blow. 

Dewey,  Rear-Admiral — 

Behold  that  fleet.    Behold! 
It  is  no  more.     "The  star  of 
empire"  joins  the  east  and  west, 

Sampson,    Admiral — 

Thy  star  was  out,  but 
Victory  awaits  thy  coming. 

Schley,   Commodore — 

Who  can  say  that  thou  art 
Sly  where  cannons  roar. 


26- 


Watson,   Commodore — 

Obedient,  vigilant  and  true; 

Coming,  and  will  arrive. 
Miles,  Major-General — 

Swerve  not  to  the  right,  nor  to 

The  left,  you  will  be  needed. 
Shafter,  General — 

Your  place  was  critical! 

Who   could   improve   your   tactics 
THEN; 

Not  those  who  criticise  you  NOW. 
Otis,  General— 

The  Rainbow  fades; 

But  stars  succeed  the  setting  sun. 
Lawton,  General — 

Hold  the  gateway  of  the  East; 

The  morning  cometh,  and  the 

Mists  will  slowly  disappear. 
McArthur,  General — 

The  gateway  opens  for 

America,  while  thou  art 

Pushing   on   the   Destinies. 
Wheeler,   General — 

Social,  fraternal  in  spirit, 

A  strong  support  in  war. 
The  Cabinet— 

The  changing  hues  of  the  evening 
cloud 

Will  disappear  at  night; 

The  darkest  shade  of     the     mid 
night    shroud, 

Comes  not  with  morning  light. 


-27 


The  hearts  of  the  people  are  drawn  to  many 
of  our  Generals  and  Captains.  The  different  po 
sitions  in  Cuba,  and  many  other  localities,  are 
filled  with  men  of  courage  and  ability,  and  the 
people  of  the  United  States  should  appreciate  the 
service  rendered;  and  not  be  impatient;  large  un 
dertakings  require  time;  evolution  moves  with 
measured  step;  and  Destiny  will  have  its  course. 


28- 


pblltpplne  1[0lan£>s. 

The  islands  of  the  sea — the  thousand  isles 

That  cluster  in  the  gloom  of  China's  night. 

Islands  that  groaned  beneath  the  yoke  of  Spain— 

That  drink  the  superstitions  of  the  past, 

And  pays  its  tribute  to  the  lustful  Priests. 

The  people  stupefied  by  opiates 

That  drug  their  souls  and  throw  them  into  sleep 

Of  sad  inanity,  and  dead  desire. 

Thousands  of  years  have  passed  and  not  one  step 

Of  progress  has  been  made,  and  now,  at  last, 

The  call  to  arms  comes  ringing  from  the  West! 

Not  to  disturb  the  thousand  sleeping  isles 

That  dot  the  greatest  ocean  of  the  world! 

But  to  abate  oppression  near  our  shores; 

And  drive  the  oppressor  from  the  western  sea, 

And  stop  the  carnage  and  the  flow  of  blood. 

America  aroused  and  called  her  legions 

To  the  front,  to  drive  the  Tyrant  from  Atlantic 

Seas;  to  raise  a  people  from  despair  and  death. 

But  the  incomprehensible  designs, 

Forever  imminent  from  first  to  last, 

Opened  the  door  that  locked  the  Orient; 

America  unwittingly  walked  in — 

Was  crowded  in  by  unremitting  cause. 

The  nation  now  controls  the  city  of 

The  ancient  islands  of  the  broken  sea; 

Our  armies  penetrate  the  thorny  maze — 

They  climb  the  rugged  hills  to  meet  the  foe 

Securely  hidden  in  the  massive  rocks. 


-29 


They  swim  the  rivers  and  ignore  the  rain — 

They  charge  the  trenches,  and  defy  the  guns — 

And  drive  insurgents  from  their  strong  defense! 

Not  for  gold — not  to  invade  their  rights — 

For  justice  and  the  rights  of  every  man, 

To  stay  the  arms  raised  high  against  their  friends, 

Humble  the  pride  that  sees  bright  visions  in 

The  glare  of  ignorant  mastery,  and  power; 

Crush  out  the  spark  that  soon  would  set  aflame 

The  fires  of  war,  amid  the  southern  seas. 

Then  can  America  unfurl  her  flag, 

Over  a  land  of  plenty,  and  of  peace, 

And  children  of  the  ocean  isles  find  rest. 

America!   you  must  fulfill  your  trust — 

Wisdom  has  blazed  the  line — signals  are  standing, 

In  the  track  of  time,  and  the  heroic  deeds 

Of  men  for  liberty;  are  planted  on  the  mountain 

tops. 

Of  the  great  sacrifice  of  life;  the  way  is  plain, 
And  we  must  heed  the  power  invisible 
That  sweeps  the  sky  and  burnishes  the  stars. 
Shall  we  obstruct  the  march  of  Destiny, 
Because  we  cannot  fully  understand 
The  solveless  problem  of  free  will  and  fate? 
Because  we  cannot  disentangle  all 
The  knots  of  Time — Past,  Present  and  To  come! 
The  force  that  ruled  the  days  at  Gettysburg 
Was  the  same  inspiration  that  gave  life 
And  power  to  freedom's  arms,  when  Lincoln  gave 
His  life  at  the  behest  of  Destiny, 
And  the  great  map  of  the  eternities 
Was  spread  before  the  universal  mind, 
And  the  dark  cloud  that  blotted  India's  hills 


30- 


And  blinded  China's  millions  to  the  light, 
And  lapped  its  poisonous  vapors  o'er  the  isles, 
Was  seen  by  that  Omniscient  eye  that  looks 
Back  of  the  fiery  birth  of  earth's  new  morn; 
And  onward  far,  until  the  clashing  worlds 
Proclaim  the  end  of  lifeless  matter,  and 
The  reconstruction  of  the  Universe. 

America! 

That  power  and  wisdom  are  bequeathed  to  man. 
Your  will,  your  destiny,  your  armaments 
Of  war,  are  instruments  to  check  the  incubus 
Of  death,  from  which  the  world  aspires  to  rise. 
Will  you  embrace  this  opportunity 
To  give  your  thought,  your  influence  and  arms, 
Your  lovers  and  your  sons,  to  fall  in  line 
To  raise  the  standard  of  humanity. 
You're  called  upon  to  stop  the  anarchy 
Of  centuries — not  to  enlarge  domain 
By  the  extinguishment  of  good,  but  by 
The  elevating  power  that  will  progress. 
Hold  the  strong  arm,  until  the  child  can  walk, 
Then  let  him  go  in  peace — an  honor  to 
Himself,  his  race,  his  kindred  and  the  world. 
And  you  who  fight  the  nation's  policy — 
Too  sensitive  to  make  a  people  good; 
Too  modest  to  extend  our  great  domain; 
Too  conscientious  to  upbuild  by  war; 
Remember  that  the  very  land  you  own 
Was  wrested  from  the  unoffending  tribes, 
By  lawless  tactics,  or  the  force  of  war. 
Too  sensitive  to  bear  the  present  strife, 
To  lay  foundation  for  a  greater  good, 
But  you  could  bear  to  have  our  splendid  men 


Retreat  and  let  the  mingled  races  live 
Thousands  of  years  in  anarchy  and  crime, 
In  idle  desperation  and  despair. 
But  you  do  live  to  see  the  destitute 
Eke  out  a  life  of  misery  and  want — 
The  feeble  women  of  our  lauded  land 
Working  their  fingers  short,  and  blinding 
Eyes  proclaim  their  destiny  in  death, 
That  you  may  stalk  abroad  in  fine  array. 
Is  this  the  tenderness  of  heart  that  builds 
A  nation,  and  dispenses  love  and  peace? 
'Tis  not  alone  the  nation  you  oppose, 
You  fight  the  march  of  progress  that  inheres 
In  every  atom  of  the  universe, 
The  aspirations   of  material   life; 
The  struggles  to  arise,  to  grow,  to  reach 
Development  in  higher,  better  life. 
Let  us  tear  off  the  cloak  of  selfishness 
That  holds  us  to  our  little,  narrow  sphere — 
Progress  and  life — inanity  and  death; 
Not  politics,  but  growth;    not  lingering, 
But  bravery  to  accomplish  the  great  work, 
That  came  fortuitous  for  us  to  do. 
Sustain  the  President,  hold  up  his  hands, 
Lighten    the    great   responsibility, 
That  must  bear  heavy  in  his  weary  work; 
Sustain  the  army  on  the  distant  isles — 
Justice  demands  the  help  of  willing  hearts; 
The  trend  of  victory  since  our  nation's  birth 
Demands  that  onward  still  shall  be  our  way. 
And  more  than  all,  the  Destiny  that  rules; 
Is  meting  out  the  best,  where  it  belongs; 
The  hour,  the  cause,  demand  the  sacrifice — 


X 


Will   you   oppose   the   march  of  great  events; 

And  face  the  wave  of  power,  that 

Hurled  its  vengeance  on  Hasdrubal's  hordes, 

And  afterward  incised  the  heart  of  Rome. 

Take  these  hot  burning  words  as  not  from  me, 

But  as  the  pouring  out  of  nature's  soul, 

To  give  new  life  unto  the  needy  world. 

ERASMUS  DARWIN  FRENCH. 

August  10,  1899. 


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